If a man's heart is a sea,
its waters must be stagnant.
Were we to give the waves which disturb its surface a name,
perhaps they would be "joy" and "rage".
No.
Those words are too shallow to describe this sea.
To discover what lies in these depths,
man must open his eyes amidst this stagnation,
and keep kicking downward through the chill, heavy water.
To know oneself, no matter if there is no bottom...
A princess in clown's lipstick kisses you awake from your nap
As you dreamers show your tickets, a VIP detective wishes you "t'athas"
There's no time right now for that, class starts in five minutes
Right now I've got to hurry, I meet you in five minutes
Venus is your neighbor, so why can't you feel the love
Jesus, I'm sure you're sitting right across from me
Pan, pan, here and there, pan, pan, not realizing
Ban, ban, that farce again, a heartbeat too late
A carefree kick for a greeting, my bare feet are always cut up
If you toss the chips in your hand at that girl, they just may be sparkling fireworks
If you don't say you like me, I can't hurry this feeling
There's no time to be shy, you'll be gone in five minutes
Venus, girls are always caught up in romantic dreams
Jesus, don't leave, hurry up and notice
Episode 10 "A New Life"
Anyway, as long as I can keep out the cold, this isn't too shabby a place to move into.
This... This really isn't half bad!
It's actually pretty good!
Maybe I can hang a picture up or something...
See, plenty of people would love to live here!
... Well... It is still under a bridge...
It's not that I don't realize that I'm doing something incredibly stupid.
I wonder what would happen if dad found out...
He'd be mad enough just because I owe her anything, and then to find out I'm living under a bridge...
This sucks...
This pounding pressure...
Ric, mind if I come in?
You're already in, aren't you?
Well? Can I or can't I?
Go right ahead.
You're letting all the warm air out.
Wow.
Nino is Nino.
I can never tell quite what she's getting at.
What's up? Did you need anything?
Here, eat this.
Did you fish that up out of the river?
Duh. Where else would I fish something up from?
Can't you think of any other ways to get food?
You haven't eaten since yesterday, have you.
I've cooked it for you, so have some.
Why did you-
Why not?
After all, you're my lover.
If my lover is hungry, I want to give him something to eat.
Now that I think of it...
If she's my lover...
My girlfriend, right?
That means...
I'm alone in my room with my girlfriend!?
Hey. You gonna eat?
Su-sure!
What's wrong?
Nothing!
What do I do?
Everything else has been so unrealistic that I didn't think anything of it...
But having such a casual moment with Nino... She's so cute!
You gonna eat that?
Yeah! I'm eating! Look, it's really tasty!
I just realized how cute she is, too...
You okay?
Oh man, this is really stressing me out...
Even if it's under a bridge, this is the first time I've had a girl in my room...
What do I do...
She's gone silent!?
I've got to say something...
Uhh... Something to chat about with a girl, something to chat about with a girl...
Nino!
Nino, what do you-
Well...
Who's your favorite actor?
What CDs do you listen to?
What's the last movie you saw?
What's your favorite brand?
Where do you get your hair done?
What did you watch on TV yesterday?
Do you have a favorite baseball team?
Is there a country you'd like to visit?
What's your favorite restaurant?
Do you like dogs?
Cats?
Birds?
She wouldn't have an answer for a single one of those!
Nothing...
Oh.
I wonder if I can have a normal conversation with her.
What is normal for Nino?
All I know about her is that she lives under a bridge,
her name,
that she owns a royal bed,
and that she was born...
on Venus...
That's it.
What's it?
There's no way she's really from Venus.
Therefore, she has to be...
A huge astronomy nerd. An SF fan, too.
So crazy she thinks she's really a Venusian.
Therefore...
Maybe I should use that as a premise, and talk about Venus!
I don't believe in aliens or ghosts or anything since I've never seen one.
But if the girl who saved my life wants to think so-
Hey.
All right, what do I do...
And then the Jupiterian said "My hands are the big bang!"
Venusian black humor?
We can't keep on calling the solar system the center of the universe.
Serious Venusian politics?
They're all so embarrassing!
Hey!
Yeah!?
What's wrong, not enough fish? How about a dragonfly?
No, that's not it. That's not it at all.
Anyway, it's-
You can say it! Throw away your pride!
Say it!
It's spring on Venus now, isn't it.
I guess.
Yeah, I guess.
Weather's great today, huh.
Yeah.
Episode 11 "After a bath"
Man, I wanna take a bath.
My scalp itches.
But I'm living under a bridge. It's the one thing I really can't have.
The public baths aren't anywhere near here, either.
Who the hell-
That singing just makes me want a bath even more!
You!?
Sorry, you're gonna have to wait.
The mayor taught me this.
You have to chant this while you bathe.
At this moment, only one thing matters...
Can I look, or can't I!
Only that!
Normally, girls respond like this.
Eek! Nobio, you perv!
Just like that!
But she hasn't yet. Does this mean it's okay?
After all, we're lovers.
Nino doesn't seem like the kind of person who would care.
No...
It's exactly because she's that kind of girl that I should cover my eyes, right?
That's right.
Because Nino doesn't have any common sense, I have to be proper!
All right, I'm done.
What!?
Don't, Nino! We haven't even held hands-
Of all the things to have common sense about!
Episode 12 "Urchin"
Mission complete.
That showed off less than I expected.
Come on, I thought you didn't have any common sense!
Well, it's not like I really care.
But a while back I went in how I normally would and a patrol car went by...
That was a pain in the ass.
Oh, so that's how you know what public indecency is.
Even she'd remember that.
Anyway, Ric, your turn for a bath.
You sure!?
Sure. You can borrow my towel. Don't get busted.
This is pretty nice.
I've always wondered what it'd be like bathing in an oil drum.
Really? Glad you found out.
Yeah, it's great to try it for once.
What did you!?
I'll be done in a minute.
Cleanser
This smell...
It's the smell of the cleanser they used in the sinks at school.
That skritchy noise must be the sound of my cuticles dying.
Perhaps...
Perhaps that's why I'm crying...
This sucks...
I'm going to owe her one for this, too.
I want to say something, but if I talk now she'll hear me crying...
Wait, it'll be super-embarassing if she even sees the ripples of my tears on the water...
Nino...
Are you playing around?
I'm serious.
Episode 13 "Ric's Memories"
When I was a kid, I had my dad wash my hair once.
The next day...
Ko... It's time to pay me back.
This will make us even.
After this, you need to be self-sufficient.
What struck me even more than this cruel fate...
What do you say?
Yes.
Was the warmth of dad's hands yesterday washing away with the lather.
Ric, I'm feeling a little chilly now.
Your hair's all stiff.
Nino, I'll pay you back for-
I washed you because I wanted to wash you.
Thanks for letting me do it.
Ric?
Episode 14 "Welcoming Party"
I found plenty of things that seemed like houses while strolling along the river.
What's this white stuff?
The grass is all pressed down, too. It's like...
Impossible.
What am I thinking?
There's no way she's actually an ali-
I've been looking for you.
You're the new guy, Recruit, right?
Who're you!? Are you from Earth!?
Let's save the introductions for later.
Follow me.
We've got a welcoming party for you.
Huh, they all live on the river?
Yeah. They're great guys.
Let's get along.
Sure.
He seems like a nice guy...
I think this may be my oasis.
It's not like I'll owe them anything for a welcoming party...
Anyway, I think I'll get along fine.
All right, let's get this fire going!
Wow, roast whole! This is how a man cooks!
Sure thing!
But it's full of bones. That makes it a pain to eat.
If you don't eat the bones, you'll waste away!
Really!?
Yeah! You need calcium!
Your mask will warp!
I don't wanna end up like that!
Then dig in!
Okay.
I'm not sure I want to get to know them that well...
They seem just like that kappa guy.
Hey, Ric!
Ric!
Mayor, Nino!
I see you've met Whitey.
Whitey?
That's me.
Come on!
Dammit, you need to stop giving people names! It's rude!
Let go, you're gonna stretch me out.
Why's he Whitey!?
It's because I only walk on white lines.
White lines?
Haven't you ever played the game where you try to make it home without stepping off the lines?
Rules
like
"leave
and
the girls
will
hate
you"
I made up a rule where if you can't, you have to marry a White Cornish.
I figured out how to keep walking on a line four years ago,
but I live all the way up in Hokkaido.
I haven't been back in six years.
So the white lines I saw before were-
white
line
You saw? Oh man.
Yeah, that had to be my trail.
What?
All right, the guest of honor is here!
Why don't you introduce yourself, Ric?
Of course.
I'm gonna make it clear just how different I am from these weirdos!
Pleased to meet you, everyone.
I'm the heir to Ichinomiya Company and its next president, currently enrolled in Tokyo U, Ko Ichinomiya.
As I'm sure you all know, Ichinomiya is a global leader in-
What the hell is this kappa doing...
That's my line.
Don't you remember that you changed your name?
Recruit. I want to hear who you are, not what you have.
Nino...
Yes... Our angel Nino is truly striking today... Lovely!
Yeah!
I don't have any reason to try and put these guys down...
I'm sorry, let me try that again.
I'm Recruit.
I'm Nino's lover.
Episode 15 "Battle Sister"
It's Sunday. What are you up so early for?
We've got to go to Mass!
Mass?
I can't believe there's a building like this under the bridge.
Great, isn't it?
Everyone pitched in and built it together years ago.
Built it?
You find lots of different kinds of jobs under this bridge.
The carpenter taught us a lot.
Different kinds of jobs... So there's a priest too?
A priest?
The person who says Mass.
Oh, you mean Sister? Of course.
A sister under the bridge?
She must be as kind as Mary... Perhaps this will be my oasis?
Look, Ric. Sister's over there. Talking with the mayor.
Her? Oh, she must be a beauty!
Sister commands...
you all to line up!
Amen!
That's not a sister, that's a brother!
Episode 16 "Mass"
Ni-ni-ni-Nino! Who's that!?
Shut up, Ric.
That gun's fake, right, tell me-
Be quiet. Mass is starting.
Very well.
Everyone who's been bad, raise your hand!
I see none!
Withdraw!
It's over in five seconds!?
Episode 17 "Gospel"
Come on, Nino.
That's absolutely not a sister, and this isn't Mass!
He's got some kind of crazy scars on his face, too.
I don't know what kind of messed up religion he's giving you guys, but-
Ric.
His wounds don't matter.
Well... I just don't learn, do I.
Sorry.
Don't worry.
Thrrs nuffin nee tuh polgiz fr.
All right, who hasn't gotten their cookie?
Me!
Me too!
Sister's cookies are the best!
He's luring them in with food!?
Nino! You're being tricked!
Don't be shy, go ask for one.
Hey.
It's not that I'm not jealous of them!
It's you.
You're Recruit, Nino's partner, right?
Um...
Is that gun real?
Is your love real?
Answer me!
If you don't, we'll test this gun out on your head.
I don't know about love, but my determination is real!
I've been listening to the gossip.
You'd better make Nino happy.
Huh, what? Maybe he is a nice guy...
But I can still smell the gunpowder!
I'll do my best.
This is the first time someone's been positive about my relationship with Nino...
I guess I'll try to think of it as the smell of fireworks.
About that gossip... What have you been hearing?
Well, if you want to talk about that...
Ever since you showed up, more and more people have been coming to confession.
And they all have one thing to say...
"I want to beat the crap out of Recruit."
They all have their eyes set on you.
Oh, really...
Recruit. I spend most of my time in the church.
If anything happens, feel free to come to me.
Anyway, Nino chose you.
I'm sure everyone else will get used to you too.
To be honest, I don't really feel like a chosen one...
All right, Recruit.
As one of my wandering flock, let me give unto you the Gospel.
Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Simply bear it with clenched teeth and you'll be A-OK.
You're just assuming I'm going to get smacked!
A-OK, huh...
That ain't OK!
That day, on the playground
We laughed without a reason
On my journey to pick up the pieces of my love
For some reason I'm always so lonely
I've got to get going, before the sky falls
Everything's in reverse, and I'm searching for you
Even though we're never going to arrive
Standing under the bridge, borne on the waves
We'll always be looking for an answer
Hey, Ric, can you break a 10,000?
Sure, thousands fine?
Wait, that's just a candy!
No it's not. It's a shiridama worth 10,000 yen.
It's half-eaten, too!
Next time, 3 Bridge.
It's all sticky.
Illustration: Hiroyuki